Buckle-hook.



No. 818,292. PATENTED APR. 1'7, 1906.

W. W. REID.

BUCKLE HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3\ 1905.

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UNTTFD STATES ATENT @FFTGE.

BUCKLE-HOOK- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1906.

Application filed April 3, 1905. Serial No. 253.529.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM WV. REID, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winnsboro, in the county of Wood and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Buckle-Hooks, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in buckles, and particularly back-band'buc kles for use in connection with harness.

The main object of the invention is the production of a buckle of simple and inexpensive construction designed to firmly grip the back-band or strap of the harness and retain the same in adjusted position.

The invention in its preferred form will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a view in elevation of my improved buckle, showing the same in place on the back-band. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like parts are indicated by similar reference-numerals throughout both views, my improved buckle comprises a base-plate of any desired length and practically coextensive in width with the width of the back-band or other cooperating strap 2. Near its upper end and at the side edges the base-plate is bent upwardly to provide ears 3 for pivotally supporting the movable member of the buckle. Near the upper end the plate is formed with a transverse slot 4 and with a second horizontally-lined slot 5, a short distance from the slot 4, the plate intermediate the slots 4 and 5 serving as a bearing-plate for the strap, as shown. Near the lower end the plate is centrally cut out at 7, the cut-out section remaining connected with the plate at the upper end and being turned upwardly to provide a trace-chain hook 8, as clearly shown in the drawings. The receiving end or terminal of the hook is preferably cut out at 9 to provide for the reception of the looking end of the movable buckle member, as hereinafter described.

10 represents the movable member or tongue of the buckle, of plate-like formation, bent at the upper end to form a semicylindrical grip 11. Adjacent the upper end the tongue member is provided with laterallyprojecting studs 12, arranged to operate in openings 13, formed in the ears 3 of the baseplate, whereby said tongue is pivotally connected with the base-plate.

The grip member 11 is formed with a series of outwardly-projecting teeth or spurs 14, preferably formed integral with the gripping member by stamping the teeth therefrom in an obvious manner.

The lower terminal of the tongue is narrowed for convenience in operation and at the extreme end provided with a downwardly-bent member or grip 15, arranged when the buckle-points are in operative position to set in the cut-out portion 9 of the hook 8 and terminally bear against the baseplate, whereby to prevent accidental disengagement of the trace-chain.

The construction described provides a buckle comprising two partsone to receive and support the back-band or other strap and provided with a hook to receive the trace-chain and a second member having pivotal connection with the first member and arranged to grip the strap and at the same time prevent accidental disengagement of the trace-chain connected with the hook described.

In use the strap is passed upward through the slot 4 on top of the bearing-plate 6, which latter is immediately beneath and closely adjacent the gripping member of the tongue. The strap is then passed outward through the slot 5 and extended longitudinally beneath and in contact with the lower portion of the base-plate, as shown in Fig. 2. The trace-chain or other connection having been engaged with the hook 8, the buckle member 10 is turned down to force the teeth 14 of the gripping member into engagement with the strap, the grip 15 of the buckle member at the same time closing the hook 8. Strain upon the strap tends to force the teeth of the buckle member into holding engagement with the strap and at the same time maintain the grip in locking or closing position with relation to the hook. If preferred, the plateface on the face adjacent the tongue member may be roughened for more effective retention of the strap, though I prefer to leave said plate smooth.

The structure described is of simple and inexpensive construction and in operation will firmly grip the back-band to prevent independent movement thereof and at the same time close the hook, it being understood that the projecting ends of the hook member beyond the cut-out portion 9 tend to prevent lateral movement of the tongue member, and thereby prevent any lateral strain from disengaging the buckle.

It is to be understood that while I have shown and described my improved buckle as particularly designed for use with webbing commonly employed in back-bands, it is also readily adapted for use with straps or backbands of any desired material.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- In a device of the class described a baseplate formed with strap-receiving openings, said plate being cut out within its plane, the cut-out portion being bent to form a hook and terminally bifurcated, a tongue pivotally connected with the base-plate and terminally bent to provide a semicylindrical projection extending beneath the body of the tongue with its free edge bearing against the under surface of the tongue-plate, said projection being formed with a series of teeth to engage the strap, said tongue being terminally provided with a depending end to fit within the bifurcation of the hook.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM W. REID. Witnesses:

ARTHUR B. EWING, J. L. MoCoNNELL. 

